Targets Set for Rundown District Renovation

A recent State Council meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang set targets for rebuilding rundown urban areas after reviewing a report on this issue. In the past eight years more than 80 million urban residents across the country have moved out of shacks into apartment blocks. In addition to significantly improving their housing conditions， this campaign contributes to efficient investment and consumption and helps cut Chinas excess housing inventory.

The meeting stressed that local authorities should implement supportive policies to the campaign， fulfill their responsibilities， and enhance their supervision on the use of relevant funding. They should also build complete utilities， and educational， medical and other essential facilities for the newly built neighborhoods.

China is expected to reconstruct six million homes in rundown urban areas this year， and the meeting set the goal for the 2018-2020 period at 15 million. The state will increase its financial and land support， including more appropriation from the central budget， and introduce innovative measures in this regard. The central government promised in its 2014 work report to rebuild shanty districts in cities and towns that house 100 million citizens.

Braille Version Available for English Test

In response to a complaint by a visually impaired student， the National Education Examinations Authority announced that the CET-4（College English Test） would for the first time provide papers in Braille for participants with visual disabilities， starting last June.

Last September a college senior of acupuncture and massage from Changchun City applied to local educational authorities to use a Braille paper for the CET-4， but was refused. After her appeal in March this year was turned down， the student filed an administrative litigation against the Ministry of Education with a Beijing court.

According to officials of the National Education Examinations Authority， the agency has provided various special amenities and services for CET participants with poor sight， including test papers using bigger fonts and extra test time. The Braille paper was only introduced this year because it demands special experts and printing equipment.

Reform in Oil and Gas Industry Unveiled

Chinese authorities recently announced a reform plan for the countrys oil and gas industry， eyeing better efficiency and competitiveness by giving the market a decisive role in the sector.

“The market should play a decisive role in resource allocation， and the governments role should be taken more seriously to safeguard national energy security， boost productivity， and meet peoples needs，” the reform guideline said.

The plan reaffirmed Chinas commitment to deepening the reform of state-owned oil and gas companies， encouraging eligible enterprises to diversify their shareholder base， and introducing mixed ownership reform. The prime goal of mixed ownership reform is to create a flexible and efficient market-oriented mechanism with the incorporation of private shareholders to improve the management of state-owned companies.

The reform calls for the participation of eligible enterprises in the prospect and development of regular oil and gas resources， which used to be dominated by state-owned companies. Private capital is welcomed to invest in and run oil and gas storage facilities.

Gas companies are encouraged to split sales and pipeline businesses step by step to promote a market-based pricing mechanism. The pricing mechanism of fuel and diesel should also be more market-oriented， while the government should intervene when abnormal price fluctuations occur.

Nurturing Future Doctors for Less Developed Regions

The central government will begin a program this year for medical colleges to educate 5，810 students to work in central and western China， according to the Ministry of Education.

The program， which covers financial aid， education， and guaranteed employment for participating students， opens to those who take the college entrance exam in early June. Only students from rural areas may apply for the program， and the seven majors they may choose from include clinical medicine， traditional Chinese medicine， and the traditional medicine of some ethnic minority groups.

Those admitted by medical colleges will receive five years of free undergraduate education. After graduation they will be assigned to jobs at local medical institutions in villages and towns of central and western China. Before receiving their letters of admission， the students will have to sign agreements with their local governments.

Activity

Piano Battle

Date： July 8， 2017

Place： Suzhou Culture and Arts Center

Price： RMB 80/120/180/280/380

The brainchild of internationally accomplished pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis， Piano Battle sees the duo go head-to-head on stage， enchanting the audience with their outstanding skills on the keys. The two artists， each with a very distinct performing style， take turns to play the works of renowned composers Chopin， Liszt and Debussy among others. They will also be improvising based on requests from the audience.

Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass

Date： July 23， 2017

Place： Guangzhou Opera House

Price： RMB 80/180/280/380/480

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is composed of some of the top brass musicians in the U.S. Its beginnings in back street shows in New Orleans， today the band holds concerts to break down barriers between genres and strive to build connections between audiences and the performers. The group is especially dedicated to reaching out to youth and inspiring them to follow their dreams.